New-York tribune., 1887-12-27
1uE ENIGHTS ~ 7ROCBLE.

IS an organization the Knights Of Labor ap-
app,4r t. be in a bad way. Within fourteen
months. according to the figures furnished IN
the General Sccrc,ary's last two reports, the
membership in the order has decreased from
7230OO to about 2OOOOO These figures arc
Startling. and they are not wholy to be cN-
rlnncd by the widespread discomfort which
the management has excited. Tins. of course
has been great factor III the revolt Du us
secret lies back Of all mere iactonai ic'ing.
When the organization was at lt' PRIME 1T ~
CIIdcd body Of worlncn who were by
large majority whether Of foreign or native
Lmth. cordially American in sentiment. The
men themselves had not dubbed together for
the purpose oi strife with their employers.
They aimed 10 secure genuine. substantial ana
ucrmaucut improycmcnt in thcr condition.
They were not idlcrS nor aS,ttorS. Ihc}
were IT i'm workmcn. proud OF their trade
amhliou, for themselves, their families and
their craft. They intended organization not
as a weapon Of defiance. hut aS iorliicauon
Of defence and a cooperative school OF cduca-
tion.
But they have been disappointed. Men of
Gippant tongues and combItvc dispositions
I
assemblies. and the more caul iouS and coa>cr-
vativc management Of Mr. Powdciiy has been
wholly unable To restrain these reckless spirits.
In the General Assemblies Of the Order the
Master Workman has been sustained with some
show Of loyalty, but the harm had already been
done by the district assemblies. VI orhlc'S
fellows who sought to build up lit,lt local
power have constantly brought the knights
under their control INTO conflicts with employ
crs. 10 the inyariablc and enduring injury #
labor Persons like Martin Irons. Of II. Louis
and the hut-hcadcd Quinn, Of tins city, devoid
e qualities for Wise leadership. with their
heads swcllcd ont Of au proportion by the
extraordinary powers intrustcd TO them. have
ordered costly strikes of-hand and brought
down untold suffering upon thr worl,nsmcn.
Disaster has only served to make uhcm more
ovcrhcaring and tyrannical, and the up>ho''
rs a matter II com,c has always been rebellion,
discord, plots and counlciplots.
No estimate OF me harm inflicted upon work.
Non and their impoverished families, upon The
cause Of labor and the reputation Of their order
hy these absurd follows Coull be cNtriyagAnt
They hayo brought about the dissolution Of
the organization. 20 long as irresponsible
power is the keystone Of labor societies. 50
long will such rmnouS persons be developed.
The workmcn Of the country are waking up 10
this fact. and evidences are multiplying daily
that they are bent upon making change. To
q body II wor<mcn n strike is an occasion Of
rs much importance IL a declaration of war TO
a nation. That the power 10 order men ont,
to declare them in arms against their employers.
shorld be intrllstcd to handful Of irresponsible
persons i> an absurdity. It, results are too
luinous 10 every individual workman to admit
Of It's being declared upon frivolous grounds
or by person, "On the make" The labor
organization which is TO become a permanent
and improving influence must recognize the
essential rights Of frccmcn.